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Linux Kernel Power Consumption Is Lowered, But Regressions Remain

06-08-2011, 03:30 PM

Phoronix: Linux Kernel Power Consumption Is Lowered, But Regressions Remain

As discovered by a Phoronix reader, there is a patch in the Linux 2.6.39.1 kernel that can partially improve the system's power performance. The patch by a Nokia engineer is entitled "cpuidle: menu: fixed wrapping timers at 4.294 seconds" and initial reports have said that it will lower the power consumption compared to the stock 2.6.39 kernel.

Comment

Yeah but it's taken a bit too long now?!
Last concrete finding was that the offending commits that messed up 2.6.38 were from 13-15 January. And unfortunatly that one is not fixed in 2.6.39.1. Perhaps Micheal should have focused on one regression at a time...

Comment

1. Needing to manually plug/unplug power adapter...
2. Still haven't received (or otherwise figured out) any sub-$100 USB UPS/power-meter units for automatic power monitoring so fast desktop/workstations can be used for bisecting in a fully automated manner...
3. Haven't been motivated by any ISVs or IHVs -- i.e. even any communication from them about correlating our bug detecting efforts. The only ISV communication has been from an interested (and totally independent) company offering up a 48-core system if it means bisecting can be done faster, but it's behind a corporate firewall and there is no power metering...
4. Due to all of the involved work, it will be a number of articles in order to offset my expenses....
5. Phoronix is pretty much just me doing all the work... I also need to be producing other content as well on a daily basis.
6. Yes, the Bavarian visitors/friends did insert an additional few day delay.
etc...

Comment

1. Needing to manually plug/unplug power adapter...
2. Still haven't received (or otherwise figured out) any sub-$100 USB UPS/power-meter units for automatic power monitoring so fast desktop/workstations can be used for bisecting in a fully automated manner...
3. Haven't been motivated by any ISVs or IHVs -- i.e. even any communication from them about correlating our bug detecting efforts. The only ISV communication has been from an interested (and totally independent) company offering up a 48-core system if it means bisecting can be done faster, but it's behind a corporate firewall and there is no power metering...
4. Due to all of the involved work, it will be a number of articles in order to offset my expenses....
5. Phoronix is pretty much just me doing all the work... I also need to be producing other content as well on a daily basis.
6. Yes, the Bavarian visitors/friends did insert an additional few day delay.
etc...

Any chance you can update us with your current progress so phoronix readers can assist with running their own bisections?